diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelper.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelper.java
index 255d307fd80f..69a210c95d4f 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelper.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelper.java
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public boolean hasDifferences() {
 
 		@Override
 		public String toString() {
-			return this.diff.toString();
+			return this.diff.fullDescription();
 		}
 
 	}
diff --git a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelperTests.java b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelperTests.java
index eae8b99b2d2f..6e855b37f698 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelperTests.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/util/XmlExpectationsHelperTests.java
@@ -74,4 +74,15 @@ void assertXmlEqualExceptionForLessEntries() {
 			.withMessageContaining("Expected child nodelist length '3' but was '2'");
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void assertXmlEqualExceptionWithFullDescription() {
+		String control = "<root><field1>f1</field1><field2>f2</field2></root>";
+		String test = "<root><field2>f2</field2><field3>f3</field3></root>";
+		XmlExpectationsHelper xmlHelper = new XmlExpectationsHelper();
+		assertThatExceptionOfType(AssertionError.class).isThrownBy(() ->
+						xmlHelper.assertXmlEqual(control, test))
+				.withMessageContaining("Expected child 'field1' but was 'null'")
+				.withMessageContaining("Expected child 'null' but was 'field3'");
+	}
+
 }